The Conservation Alliance Awards Five Grants to Support Public Lands Rallies Nationwide on July 27

June 21, 2017

Conservation groups to host public lands celebrations concurrent with “This Land is Our Land March For Public Lands”

BEND, Ore. (June 21, 2017) – The Conservation Alliance awarded five grants to conservation organizations to support “This Land is Our Land” celebrations in Oregon, California, Minnesota and New Mexico. The public lands celebrations will take place on July 27, the same day as the outdoor industry’s “This Land is Our Land March For Public Lands” in Salt Lake City, UT.

“America’s public lands are the backbone of the outdoor industry, and they support local outdoor recreation economies across the county. With help from Conservation Alliance grantees, people in California, New Mexico, Minnesota and Oregon will have the opportunity to join the outdoor industry’s celebration of public lands on July 27,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance.

Grant recipients will host public lands celebrations in their communities to raise awareness and spark public lands discussions. Each group hosting an event has received Conservation Alliance funding for efforts to secure protections for public lands, and many of these protections are now at risk under Trump Administration and Congressional proposals. The events will provide a platform for people to express support and enthusiasm for public lands in communities that rely on protected land to support the local outdoor recreation economy.

The grants will support public lands celebrations in Medford, Oregon; Bend, Oregon; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Ely, Minnesota; and Mammoth Lakes, California.

“Oregonians share a deep love for our public lands and in Bend and Central Oregon public lands are a big part of our way of life,” said Brent Fenty, executive director of Oregon Natural Desert Association. “Public lands are also an important part of our local economy and help attract people and businesses who care about them. We are proud to work with this great community to highlight the value of public lands with the This Land is Our Land Rally on July 27th.”

Grant recipients include:

Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
Medford, OR

Oregon Natural Desert Association
Bend, OR

New Mexico Wilderness Alliance
Las Cruces, NM

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness
Ely, MN

Winter Wildlands Alliance
Mammoth Lakes, CA

About the “This Land is Our Land March For Public Lands”

The “This Land is Our Land March For Public Lands”, hosted by The Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Alliance, will take place on July 27, Day Two of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2017. The march will start in the South Plaza of the Salt Palace Convention Center at 4:30 p.m. and will proceed along a designated route to the Utah State Capitol. At the Capitol, industry leaders and experts will hold a 45-minute rally to raise issues that spark further public lands discussion and action. Speakers include Utah tribal leaders, outdoor industry leaders, athletes, and policy makers.

All Outdoor Retailer show attendees as well as interested citizens of Utah are welcome to attend. All participants are asked to abide by the established Code of Conduct.

About The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of like-minded businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas. Membership in the Alliance is open to all companies who care about protecting our most threatened wild places for habitat and outdoor recreation.  Since its inception in 1989, The Conservation Alliance has contributed more than $18 million, awarded 552 grants, helped to protect more than 50 million acres of wildlands; protect 2,991 miles of rivers; stop or remove 29 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase 12 climbing areas. For complete information on The Conservation Alliance, see: www.conservationalliance.com.